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Macbeth: Victim Or Villain?

Decent Essays

Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is a very dark, complex and cynical play written during the reign of King James in the time of Jacobean England. There are many events that occur that will have readers react in many ways and form new opinions while reading, especially with Macbeth’s character. Readers can automatically tell that Macbeth is a very dynamic character because of him in the beginning , describes as honorable and brave, in contrast to how he was in the end, described as cruel and ruthless. However, the remaining question is whether or not he is reprehensible for his actions or is he the victim of his outcome. Macbeth would be more of the victim of his own villainy because even though he did have other outside urges pushing him to do things …show more content…

After Lady Macbeth’s constant pressing, Macbeth didn’t stop the killing. Even after Duncan’s death he still ensured that “it is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, if it find heaven, must it find out tonight.” (3.1.161-162). It was said that Banquo would bear a line of kings so Macbeth kills him in order to confirm that Banquo’s sons don’t take Macbeth out of power. But even Lady Macbeth, the one who persuaded him a first, said it herself “our desire is got without content tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy” (3.2.7-9). This shows how Macbeth can be considered the villain because he still goes ahead in killing others, even when the one who gave most pressure to start this mess, has given up. Furthermore, he also, later on, is motivated to kill Macduff. After he went to the witches for a second time he was informed to “beware Macduff. Beware the Thane of Fife” (4.1.81-82). With this, Macbeth responds with “I’ll make assurance double sure, and take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live” (4.1.94-95). This farther supports how Macbeth is a villain since he had many opportunities to stop the madness but he instead built up

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